John Carver: ‘I get stick from my mates for referring to Scotland as we’

A planned 30 minutes with John Carver concludes at just short of three hours. Given the subject matters range from Paul Gascoigne to Steve Clarke and so much in between, this is hardly a shock.

Take, for example, the case of Hatem Ben Arfa one half-time at Newcastle. “He was having a rough game and Alan Pardew had a right go at him,” Carver recalls. “Suddenly Hatem turns to a fridge that would have taken 10 men to pick up. He tried to lift it and throw it at Pards but he couldn’t. He storms out of the dressing room, into the coaches’ office. Five minutes later he reappears eating a sandwich, ready to play the second half.”

Carver and Gascoigne were together as friends and apprentices at Newcastle. The former still remembers the emerging midfield maestro being sent to town for – and retrieving – green paint after spilling white emulsion on a training pitch. Simpler times. Kevin Keegan? “He made everybody feel part of the first-team’s success. I was an academy coach and he says: ‘It’s your big day, John. Derek Fazackerley’s not well so you are taking the first team.’ I was 31.”

Carver is a raconteur with substance. Clarke is among those surprised that his assistant is not employed by a club, such is his level of knowledge. The scenario is to Scotland’s benefit. Since joining the setup in late 2020, Carver has re‑established a close bond with Clarke – they were Newcastle coaches together under Ruud Gullit – and taken on an influential role as Scotland continue on their upward curve. Their World Cup play-off against Ukraine has been delayed until June but a friendly at home against Poland on Thursday has taken its place.

Carver’s memories of qualification for last summer’s European Championship finals, achieved via penalties